Standing at football grounds receives club support

Thirteen English league clubs support re-introducing standing at football grounds, according to a fans' group, reports BBC Sport.

Thirteen English league clubs support re-introducing standing at football grounds, according to a fans' group, reports BBC Sport.

On Tuesday, the Football Supporters' Federation is hoping to win the backing of MPs for its plans for a small-scale trial at Premier League clubs.

The Premier League have released a statement opposing the idea.

FSF's Peter Daykin said: "We need to find out if it can work and the only way to do that is to trial it."

But a Premier League statement says they will "not be encouraging the Government to change the law".

It reads: "Since the introduction of all-seater stadia the supporter experience has improved significantly and we have seen more diverse crowds attending Premier League matches, including more women and children.

"The police, safety officers and licensing authorities remain clear and have consistently informed us that crowd management has improved as a result of all-seater stadiums being in place in the top two divisions in this country."

All-seater stadiums have been compulsory in the Premier League since 1994, following Lord Justice Taylor's report after the Hillsborough disaster.

But MP Roger Godsiff has tabled an Early Day Motion calling for government approval of a pilot scheme.